Kenneth J.

Sousa Effy Oz

MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Seventh Edition

Business Hardware

© Cengage Learning 2015

 Objectives

• List major hardware components of computers and explain their

functions
• Classify computers into major categories, and identify their
strengths and weaknesses
• Identify and evaluate key criteria for deciding what computers or
related devices to purchase
• Discuss the possible health hazards of computer use

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 Computer Hardware Components

• Hardware: physical components of computers and related

electronic devices
• Consider software before hardware
• Computer must handle four operations:
– Accept data
– Store data and instructions
– Process data
– Output data and/or information

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 Computer Hardware Components (cont'd.)

• In general, every computer has the following components:

– Input devices
– Central processing unit (CPU)
– Internal memory
– Storage
– Output devices
• Input devices: receive signals from outside of computer and
transfer them into the computer

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 Figure 4.1 Most computer systems have the same basic components © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Computer Hardware Components (cont'd.)

• Central processing unit (CPU)

– Accepts instructions and data
– Decodes and executes instructions
– Stores results (output) in memory
• Internal memory (or primary memory): stores data and
instructions before and after CPU processes them
– RAM: random access memory
– ROM: read-only memory

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 Computer Hardware Components (cont'd.)

• Motherboard: circuit board containing the CPU and primary

memory
• Storage: magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, optical discs, DVDs,
and flash memory
– Allows permanent storage
• Output devices: deliver information from the computer to the
user
– Monitors and printers are the most common output devices
– Audio devices also deliver output

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 Computer Hardware Components (cont'd.)

• Bit: Binary digit

– 0 or 1
• Byte: a combination of eight bits
• Computer memory and storage capacity are measured in
megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), etc.

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 Figure 4.2 Measuring amounts of digital data © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Classification of Computers

• Computers vary in size and power

• Classified by power
– Power is determined mainly by processing speed and memory size
• More powerful computers are more expensive

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 Supercomputers

• Supercomputers: most powerful computers at any given time

– Largest in physical size and most expensive
– Designed for complex arithmetic calculations
– Generally impractical for business purposes
• Parallel processing: multiple processors running simultaneously
– Also known as multiprocessing
– Clustering uses the CPU power of multiple computers

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 Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe computers: store large amounts of data and business

transactions
– Less expensive and less powerful than supercomputers
– Often used by banks, universities, and insurance companies as a
central computer
– Significant amount of world’s business data resides on mainframes
– Use multiple processors

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 Servers

• Midrange category of computers

• Smaller and less powerful than mainframes
• Serve hundreds of users that connect from desktops, laptops, and
other servers
• Use multiple processors

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 Personal Computers (PCs)

• PCs: collective name for several types of computers

– Notebook, computers, desktops, netbooks, and handheld computers
• Workstation: more powerful PCs used for CAD, CAM, complex
simulation, graphical rendering, and scientific applications
• Power of PCs doubles about every two years

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 Computers on the Go: Notebooks, Tablets, and
Smartphones
• Notebook computer (or laptop): compact, light PC powered by
rechargeable battery
– Current models include wireless technology
• Personal digital assistant (PDA): handheld computer
– Stylus: pen-like device used to enter data through a touch screen
– Smartphone: PDA that is also a mobile phone

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 Computers on the Go: Notebooks, Tablets, and
Smartphones (cont’d.)
• Tablet computer: mobile computing device that uses a touch
screen to execute commands
– “Traditional” monitor mode or “slate” mode
– Wide range of applications
– Examples: Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface, and Kindle Fire

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 Converging Technologies

• Technology convergence: building several technologies into a

single piece of hardware
– Prominent in handheld units
• Smartphone is a prime example
– Brings together cellular telephone, data and networking, media, and
cloud storage

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 A Peek Inside the Computer

• Professionals must know about computer components to

understand their power and capabilities
– They use this knowledge to make good decisions in purchasing or
recommending a computer

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 The Central Processing Unit

• CPU has two units to store and process data

– Control unit and arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
• CPU is a silicon chip with multiple circuits
• Also known as microprocessor
• Multicore processors: processors that combine two or more
CPUs or “cores” on a single chip
• Multithreading: processing more than one program, or several
parts of a program, at the same time

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 The Central Processing Unit (cont'd.)

• Microprocessors are embedded with transistors

• Transistor: a semiconductor that can represent binary code’s two
states
• Machine cycle: four operations performed by the CPU
– Fetch, decode, execute and store
• CPU clock: special circuitry on the processor that synchronizes
all tasks
• Clock rate: number of pulses per second
– A machine cycle takes several clock pulses

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 Figure 4.3 What happens inside the CPU in one machine cycle © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Figure 4.4 The timing of computer processing operations © Cengage Learning 2015

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 The Central Processing Unit (cont'd.)

• Data word (or word): maximum number of bits that the control
unit can fetch from primary memory in a single machine cycle
– Current microcomputers have 32- or 64-bit words
• ALU: the part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical
operations

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 Computer Power

• Depends on processing speed and memory capacity

• Bus: electronic lines or traces used for communication inside
computer
• Throughput: number of bits per second that the bus can
accommodate
• MIPS (millions of instructions per second): a common measure of
computer speed

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 Input Devices

• Computers must receive input to produce output

• Input devices include machines and devices used to enter
instructions and data into computer
• Common input devices include:
– Keyboard
– Mouse
– Trackball
– Microphone
– Scanner

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 Keyboard

• An input device that contains keys that users press to enter data
– Includes letters, numbers, punctuation, and function keys
– QWERTY: standard keyboard layout
– Dvorak: keyboard layout that allows faster typing
• Ergonomics: the study of the comfort and safety of humans in the
workplace
• Ergonomic keyboard: fits the natural position of forearms and
prevents injury

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 Mouse, Trackball, and Trackpad

• Mouse: input device that controls an on-screen pointer to facilitate

point-and-click approach
– Has one to five buttons for clicking, locking, dragging
• Trackball: similar to mouse, but user manipulates a ball within the
device to indicate movement on the screen
• Trackpad: cursor movement is controlled by moving a finger over
a touch-sensitive pad
• Mice and similar devices can be wireless units

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 Touch Screen

• Both an input and an output device

• Often used for public applications, such as kiosks
• Prevalent in handheld devices, GPS devices, and mobile phones
• Allows the user to navigate and select by touching the screen

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 Source Data Input Devices

• Copy data directly from sources such as bar codes, credit cards,
and checks
• Optical mark recognition devices detect positions of marks or
characters
• Optical character recognition (OCR) devices try to interpret
handwritten and printed text
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID): fastest growing source
data technology

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 Source Data Input Devices (cont'd.)

• Universal Product Code (UPC): bar code on a product in a

grocery store
• Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR): automates check
processing
• Magnetic strips on credit cards and debit cards
• Bar codes used on packages received through shipping
companies

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 Figure 4.5 Banks use magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) to automate part of the check clearing
process © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Imaging

• Converts documents into images

– Saves paper
– More efficient retrieval and filing
• Scanned document images can be:
– Indexed and linked to relevant records in databases
– Easily retrieved
• Original paper documents can be destroyed after scanning

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 Speech Recognition

• Process of translating human speech into computer-readable data

and instructions
• Also called voice recognition
• System receives input from microphone or telephone and
processes it with software
• Interactive voice recognition (IVR) system: employed by many
companies for customer service

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 Output Devices

• Deliver results of computer processing

• Popular output devices include:
– Monitors
– Printers
– Speakers
• In the future, digital smell output is possible

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 Monitors

• Pixel (picture element): small dots that make up the images on a

monitor
• CRT (cathode-ray tube): inner side of screen has layer of
phosphoric dots, i.e., the pixels
– Electron gun receives instructions from computer and sweeps the
pixels
• Flat-panel monitor: advantages include lower power use,
sharper images, and slim profile
• Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor: uses a liquid crystal filled
screen
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 Monitors (cont'd.)

• Monitor price depends on:

– Size, measured as the diagonal length of the screen
– Brightness → brighter is better
– Contrast ratio → higher is better
– Pixel pitch → closer pixels are better
• Resolution: a measure of picture sharpness
– Number of pixels in the width and height of the screen

Figure 4.3 What happens inside the CPU in one machine cycle © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Printers

• Nonimpact printer: does not mechanically impact the paper

– Laser printer is most common in business
– Others include ink-jet and electrothermal printers
– Speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm)
– Density measured in dots per inch (DPI)
• Impact printer: reproduces image by using mechanical impact
– Dot-matrix printer: tiny pins strike ink ribbon against paper

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 Storage

• Data must be stored on nonvolatile medium

– Data is retained even when the storage device is not connected to
electrical power
• Storage devices differ in the technology used to maintain data and
physical structure
• Evaluate storage devices by comparing:
– Cost
– Capacity
– Access speed
– Access mode
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 Modes of Access

• Sequential storage: data is organized one record after another

– Must read through all records that are stored prior to the desired
record
• Direct access: records are organized by physical address on the
device
– A record can be accessed directly (randomly)
• Flash drive: small storage device that connects via universal
serial bus (USB)

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 Figure 4.6 Sequential and direct data access © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Magnetic Tapes

• Are similar to tapes used in tape recorders and VCRs, usually as

cartridges
• Provide lowest cost (bytes per dollar)
• Can back up all data
– Takes a long time to copy from tape
• Are unreliable after long periods of time or usage

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 Magnetic Disks

• Most widely used storage medium

– Includes hard disks and floppy disks
• Hard disk: stack of several rigid platters installed in the same box
that holds the CPU
– Internal hard disk in a desktop computer stores up to three TB of
data
– External hard disk connects to computer through USB port
– Storage provisions for data warehouses
• Large databases

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 Optical Discs

• Recorded by treating the disc surface to reflect light in different

ways
• Two basic categories
– Compact discs (CDs)
– Digital video discs (DVDs)
• Compact discs: available as read-only, recordable, and rewritable
• DVDs: store 4.7 GB per side
• Optical discs are slower than hard disks

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 Solid-State Storage

• Also known as flash memory: rewritable memory chip that holds

content without power
– Consumes very little power
– Does not need a constant power supply
– Fast access times
– Relatively immune to shock or vibration
• Available as memory card and USB drive
• Solid state disk (SSD): storage media that does not have latency
time

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 DAS, NAS, and SAN

• Direct-attached storage (DAS): disk or array of disks or tapes

directly connected to server
– Easy to deploy and manage; low cost
– Data access speed depends on server usage
• Network-attached storage (NAS): device designed for
networked storage
– Includes both the storage media and the software to manage it
– Relieves the server of handling storage
– Highly scalable

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 DAS, NAS, and SAN (cont'd.)

• Storage area network (SAN): a network fully devoted to storage

and transfer of data
– Managed separately from the rest of the LAN
– May combine DAS and NAS devices
– Can transfer large data blocks at high speeds
– Expensive and complex to manage
• RAID: redundant array of independent disks
– Used by DAS, NAS, and SAN
– Fault-tolerant: system’s ability to sustain a disk failure because the
same data is on another disk
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 Cloud Storage

• Availability of network-accessible storage from an off-site

computer or technology device
• Systems are usually maintained by a third-party organization
through a subscription charge
• Storage-as-a-service: cloud storage vendors
• Advantages: reduces cost of storing and managing data; frees
internal storage infrastructure for live and production data
• Disadvantages: reliance on networks and their costs; and risks of
security breaches

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Business Considerations in Evaluating Storage Media

• When purchasing storage devices, managers must consider:

– Purpose of data storage
– Amount of data to be stored
– Required speed of data storage and retrieval
– Unit space and portability of the device
– Cost

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 Figure 4.7 Characteristics of digital storage media for business purposes © Cengage Learning 2015

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 Considerations in Purchasing Hardware

• Equipment’s power: speed, memory size, and capacity

• Expansion slots and ports: numbers and types
– Ports: sockets that connect external devices to a computer
• Monitor type and resolution
• Ergonomics

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 Considerations in Purchasing Hardware (cont'd.)

• Compatibility
– With existing hardware, software, and networks
– Backward compatibility: newer hardware works with older
hardware
• Hardware footprint: area that it requires
• Reliability of vendor, warranty policy and
post-warranty support
• Power consumption and noise
• Cost

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 Figure 4.8 Example of an evaluation form to assist with the purchase of hardware
© Cengage Learning 2015

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 Scalability and Updating Hardware

• Principle of scalability
– Resources—in this case, hardware—can accommodate a growing
amount of work either with or without upgrading
• Not all hardware is scalable
• Hardware replacement is needed to avoid performance gaps
between hardware and software
• Leasing hardware is a valid option to avoid short useful lifetime of
hardware

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 Summary

• Understanding hardware is important for purchasing decisions

• Computers are classified according to power
• All computers have a CPU to process instructions
• Clock rate measures the speed of a CPU
• Data word: the number of bits the computer can process in a
single cycle

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 Summary (cont'd.)

• Computer power: measured by its speed, memory size, and

number of processor cores
• RAM: volatile memory
• ROM is nonvolatile; it does not require power
• Imaging devices help process text and graphics
• When evaluating external storage, consider transfer rate,
capacity, portability, and form of data organization supported

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 Summary (cont'd.)

• Data is organized sequentially on tapes

• Direct access storage devices such as RAM, magnetic disks, and
optical discs allow random access
• Databases require direct access storage devices
• When purchasing hardware, professionals should consider cost,
power, scalability, compatibility, etc.
• Information technology may pose health risks such as carpal
tunnel syndrome

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